“Please, no! Don’t do that.” Tom Dumoulin knew exactly what he would be up against on Sunday. Shortly before, he wrote on social media against a loud protest from muscles, tendons and bones. Yet he ran the 26.2 miles in an awe-inspiring time of 2 hours, 29 minutes, 21 seconds.
The fact that his heart and lungs told him in advance: “Let’s go buddy, we can easily do a marathon in 2.15 hours,” outlined the sky-high ambition. But a crowned winner on a cycling bike is not necessarily a top talent on running shoes. The fate of the toiling amateur in the war of attrition lay in wait.
‘Dumoulin is blessed with a talent for strenuous efforts’
Sports trainer Louis Delahaye, himself a former cyclist and runner, viewed it with pleasure: “Of course, there are those who run faster. The winner ran the race in just over two hours. But they are also really professional runners.” Dumoulin is indeed a top athlete, he says, “but here he is mainly a well-known Dutchman. And one who is blessed with a talent for strenuous efforts. With such a fast time, he of course immediately attracts attention. That is something to celebrate.”
Tom Dumoulin just after the finish in the Olympic Stadium. © ANP
Still, he says, Dumoulin might have amazed the audience even more. “He previously ran a half marathon in 1:10 hours, so if his muscles and bones had cooperated better, he could have finished earlier. Even around 2 hours and 18 minutes, I think.”
These are dizzyingly fast times for amateur athletes. A good amateur runner often needs about three hours for the battle of attrition. Many are already proud that they reach the finish after four hours. Some never make it.
‘Muscles and bones now limit him’
Delahaye: “He has a huge advantage: that is his heart and lung system.” Due to his cycling career, he has great endurance and a high energy and oxygen system. He has maintained that too, just putting in the miles. That can now be seen. It is the muscles, tendons and bones that limit it. Walking gives him muscle pain, and that has slowed him down. Still, under two and a half hours is super good.”
Former top athlete and sports scientist Miranda Boonstra also closely followed the running cyclist Dumoulin. From the stands. It’s always fun to see how a cycling champion makes it through the race. She also sees greater potential for cyclists without a bicycle.
“He started too fast. He followed the ladies in front. Tom couldn’t keep it up and he gradually fell back. Even though he had a wonderful time, he messed up a bit. He initially ran with a group at a predicted time of 2 hours and 18 minutes, but the famous man with the hammer got in the way. And yet he didn’t get out. Very cool. I’m now curious how much faster he can go, because he has already run a half marathon walked in 1 hour and 8 minutes. There is more to it.”
From rider to runner: Tom Dumoulin (34) makes his debut at the Amsterdam marathon
Sensation and inspiration for many amateur runners
The professional view of the performance is that of some perspective. But for regular marathon athletes and many amateur runners it is thrill and inspiration. “He is not at the level of his cycling performance, that is not possible,” says Delahaye. “The top runners sometimes finish under two hours. Dumoulin’s entry level is something for amateurs to be very jealous of.”
About 30,000 runners ventured to the ‘whole of Amsterdam’ on Sunday. © ANP / ANP
In fact, the award-winning cyclist enters a new mixed category that is growing rapidly: that of top athlete from another branch of sport, and that of famous Dutch people. Here too, the rankings are harsh and unrelenting.
Sven Kramer runs Amsterdam marathon faster than expected
Dumoulin is immediately a winner in this category. For example, footballer Arjen Robben, who is also a top athlete, ran the marathon in 2 hours and 58 minutes. And former long track skater Erben Wennemars did that in 2 hours and 47 minutes. Both with a formidable heart and lung system. Multiple speed skating champion Sven Kramer, also famous for his endurance, once made his debut with a time of just over three hours.
For the amateurs among the famous Dutch people, these times remain astronomically fast. King Willem-Alexander once managed to reach the finish line within 4 hours and 32 minutes. The only one who surpasses Dumoulin in time is the running comedian Dolf Jansen, who recorded a time of 2 hours and 28 minutes. But that was in 1985.
Prince Willem Alexander ran the New York Marathon in 1992 in the company of, among others, former cyclist Gerrie Knetemann. © ANP
First ever marathon became a dream debut
And this was the first marathon ever for the popular cyclist. He said: “Halfway through I felt everything in my body slowly cramping.” He even considered quitting. “I stopped twice with cramps.” A second marathon? “Ha, you shouldn’t ask me that now.”
Sports manager and former top athlete Jos Hermans: “Wow, that Tom Dumoulin had a dream debut. I spoke to him and he said: ‘I have the engine of a Ferrari but the chassis of a Fiat Punto’. Haha, he can indeed be faster, I think. He is young, 34, that plays a role. Dolf Jansen doesn’t run that time now and certainly doesn’t anymore.”